Chapter 26: Her Deadliest Nightmare
"Actually, I'd something to share with you", Eddie squeezed her hand.
"What is it?",Alice squeezed back.
"Jake disappeared without a trace."
"Huh? What do you mean?",Alice furrowed her brows.
"A week ago, we went for a date. A phone call interrupted us. He left saying something urgent came up. Since then, he didn't call me once."
"Have you tried calling him?",Alice enquired.
"Yeah, but it says his number is out of service."
"Does Daniel know about it?"
"No, he's already tensed about your attack", Eddie shook her head, "I can't bring myself to bother him."
"Eddie...", Alice closed her eyes, "The Milton family is the most powerful family in the business as well as the underground world. Only a few dare to offend them."
"But those 'a few' exists, right?"
Alice can feel the quotation marks around 'a few'.
"But his family won't keep quiet if something happens to their only heir", Alice emphasized.
KNOCK KNOCK
A knock interrupted their conversation.
"Come in", Eddie answered it.
The door opened & Daniel entered. He was followed by Doctor Shen.
"He came to check on you", Daniel spoke to Alice.
"May I open the bandage?", Doctor Shen came forward.
"Sure", Alice nodded.
Doctor Shen opened the bandages & checked her wound, "Your wound is quite deep. You were lucky to survive."
"Maybe...", Alice glanced at Daniel, "I still have much work to do."
Daniel smiled but the doctor didn't notice their silent interaction & wrapped the bandages again, "I'm done."
"Thanks."
The evening passed away in chatting among the family members except for that woman, who sat there looking attentively at Alice like she was studying each & every thought that crossed her mind.
...
That night
Dining Hall
Papa Adley himself cooked dinner that night. The whole mansion was bathed in the aroma of his flavors. The dining table was filled with dishes of various flavors & spices. Everyone, including Alice & Daniel, enjoyed the dinner wholeheartedly.
Alice went to sleep with Eddie in the bedroom while Daniel was left in his bedroom to fan his thoughts.
...
Alice rode down the dusty road on her bicycle. The evening wind ruffled her shoulder-length hair. That day, her Granny gifted her a new sketchbook. She was so happy that she can't wait to show her Dad. She wheezed past the open gate & landed near the marbled footpath. She pushed her cycle inside the garage & ran towards the main door.
CRASH!!! ZHANG!!!
She quickened her footsteps when she heard the crash of flower pots & loud irregular crescendos from the piano. What she saw when she reached the door, was her Dad lying in a pool of blood. A woman & her masked allies stood there. The music room was in a mess with blood splashed everywhere. The woman's hands were covered in blood & she let out a hyena cackle as she saw Alice standing there.
"Dad!!!", Alice let out a shrilling scream.
She smirked before commanding, "Catch her!"
"Alice, run", her Dad commanded in a firm whisper.
She backed a few steps before grabbing the car keys from behind the door & heading to the garage.
...
Alice woke up from her good night sleep with sweat beads dripping from her forehead. Her throat was dry beyond hesitation. That day had haunted her dreams for years, Her deadliest nightmare. Till this day, she felt guilty for not having done anything to save her Dad from that woman's clutches. She never came to know who that woman was.
She looked at the sleeping Eddie beside her & quietly reached out for the jug of water. Surprisingly, it was empty. She thought she'd filled the water before sleeping. Maybe, Eddie drank it some time while she was sleeping.
She got down from the bed & quietly slipped out of the room.
---
Dining Hall
Daniel had asked Eddie to empty the water because he knew Alice would wake up at night to drink some water. Currently, he was hiding behind a pillar, waiting for his beloved's arrival. Within no time, he saw a faint silhouette, climbing down the stairs. He immediately recognized her & cautiously waited for her. Soon, Alice came near the filter & filled the empty jug. When she was about to leave, her mouth was gagged by someone's hand from behind. Before she could struggle, she heard him say, "Don't shout. It's me."
Alice's tensed nerves immediately calmed down & he released her. She turned to look at him & spoke in a whisper, "What are you doing here?"
"I was waiting for you."
"Me?'
"Uh huh."
"How would you know I'll come?", she pouted.
"Here", he glanced at the jug of water.
"So, it was you", she was quite amused by his pig-headedness.
He just smiled before pulling her into a passionate kiss. He hadn't kissed her for ages! The passion was too intense that it made her stumble backward while he supported her limp back against the kitchen counter.
A certain hyena cackle made Alice shiver & she jolted away from him. That made him annoyed.
"That woman is still awake?",he furrowed his brows with extreme annoyance.
"Strange", she emphasized.
"I find her suspicious."
"Me too."
"Let's check on her."
Alice nodded & they moved out of the kitchen in search of that woman. She halted & whispered, "There." Daniel followed her gaze & saw the woman in the balcony, talking on the phone. She let out a cackle before saying, "Finally, I found her. It's really her."
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